Workers were sacked eight weeks after going on strike

Delegates at the conference have been calling for changes to the law to protect striking workers from the sack and want to prevent a repeat of what happened at Friction Dynamics in Caernarfon, when workers were wrongfully dismissed.

Workers are still picketing the site two-and-a-half years after the dispute with the factory's American owner Craig Smith began in April 2001.

Eight weeks later 86 employees were sacked.

But last year an industrial tribunal ruled they had had been unfairly dismissed and should get compensation.

Then last month American owner Craig Smith put the company into administration and the remaining 93 workers lost their jobs.

Since then a new company called Dynamix friction has been set up on the site which is owned by Mr Smith.

We hadn't done anything wrong apart from fight for our rights Meirion Hughes

One of the sacked workers Meirion Hughes from Rhostryfan, said: "The dismissal letter was the most emotional one I have ever received.

"We hadn't done anything wrong apart from fight for our rights."

"It is important for our fellow union members to see we are carrying on with our campaign which is why we are going to Brighton," said Mr Hughes.

"We don't want other workers to be treated in the way we have been.

"Leaders of other unions have to fight so that other employers aren't allowed to do what happened to us."